Phil Mickelson doubtful about a US victory at the President’s Cup
Ace American golfer Phil Mickelson better known as “Lefty”, considers the US Team as underdogs in the upcoming President’s Cup event this week. Despite of an overwhelming US record in the event and being himself on the US Team for a consecutive eight times
in the past, Mickelson believes that this year’s international Team is far more potent than any of the other years and US Team will find themselves on the back foot at the lesser fortunate Royal Melbourne Golf Club. US Team has lost just one of the President’s
Cup events since it was first staged in 1994.
"I expect the US team to put on a good challenge for the International team even though I would certainly expect them to be the favourite because of their home course knowledge and home course support. But we're going to try to make a good run." said the
41-year-old Mickelson.
The debate is warming up ahead of the coveted cup set to begin this week, where top-ranked players from across the world as well as the US players will make their bid for the title yet again. The Lefty has just won once on the PGA Tour so far this year but
his strong position on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) helped him qualify for the event. Mickelson has not missed a single President’s Cup event and hopes to post another US victory at the event.
"It's a real challenge for us to play here because we're playing such a strong team.” He added.
Mickelson seemed particularly wary about the course which has been the only venue where they lost to the International Team back in 1998. He spoke about the toughness of the course as well as of the added advantage of a strong crowd support that the International
Team boosts off and considers it as one of the primary factor of his worries.
"Also the people here are so supportive of the game of golf and so supportive of the Australian players that it's challenging for us to play well here.” Mickelson said.
The four-time major winner is paired with compatriot Jim Furyk and will be playing against the International Team pair Retief Goosen and Robert Allenby on Thursday, November 17. The burly American is also the most experienced player in the event with no
fewer than nine appearances in the President’s Cup which also makes him the only player who has played all the President’s Cup events so far. Mickelson won his only title of the year at the Shell Houston Open. He bolted in contention at the Open Championship
at the Royal St. George’s this year, but succumbed to late charge by the winner Darren Clarke. He finished for a joint 19th at the PGA Championship.
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